Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — New Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay knows what it takes to get to the top. Last season, he was a part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl team and he wants to bring that winning culture to the Steelers. He believes the process starts at OTAs.
“Everybody has to buy in, and this is the time that you need to be bought in,” Slay said. “Guys have families. I have one as well. You want to be a champion? There are things you have to sacrifice, and this is one of the jobs I want to sacrifice. I want to come here, be on time, be present, let guys see my face, let them know it’s important for me to be here, and I’m here to win.”
Slay is big on interacting with his teammates. He’s thinks it’s an important element to building a championship culture.
“I’m one of the guys that I’m going to talk to you,” he said. “I’m not afraid and waiting for you to come talk to me. I’m going to come invade your space for a little bit. It’s learning each other and understanding how it’s done. That’s how you become better teammates, and that’s how you understand each other on the field.”
Slay has already started mentoring Steelers young cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
“I told him I used to watch his tape growing up,” Porter said. “I know a lot of guys don’t like when I say that because it makes them feel old. He’s been in the league a long time. He’s a great vet. I’m glad to keep learning from him.”
The Steelers continue to wait on a decision from four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is known to not be fond of OTAs. He even skipped mandatory minicamp with the New York Jets last season. So perhaps he’s waiting for OTAs to end before signing.
The Steelers are currently in the voluntary portion of OTAs. The sessions are mostly for young players. So a vet like Slay doesn’t have to show up, but he sees a lot of importance in doing so. He’s a firm believer that it’s never too early to build a cohesive rapport with teammates. It’s the first step of molding a championship mindset.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Veteran CB Darius Slay Reveals Why He Values OTAs
